Microsoft Word research method fm doc

CHAPTER SEVEN 
WORK PLAN AND BUDGET 
7.1 Work Plan 
A WORK PLAN is a schedule, chart or graph that summarizes the different components of a 
research project and how they will be implemented in a coherent way within a specific time-
span. 
It may include: 
• 
The tasks to be performed;
• 
When and where the tasks will be performed; and
• 
Who will perform the tasks and the time each person will spend on them.
Work plan could be presented in different forms, such as work schedule and GANTT 
chart, but we will demonstrate the GANTT chart here.
A GANTT chart is a planning tool that depicts graphically the order in which various tasks 
must be completed and the duration of each activity. The length of each task is shown by a 
bar that extends over the number of days, weeks or months the task is expected to take. 
 
How can a work plan be used? 
A work plan can serve as: 
• 
A tool for planning the details of the project activities and drafting a budget.
• 
A visual outline or illustration of the sequence of project operations. It can facilitate 
presentations and negotiations concerning the project with government authorities and 
other funding agencies.
• 
A management tool for the Team Leader and members of the research team, showing 
what tasks and activities are planned, their timing, and when various staff members 
will be involved in various tasks.
• 
A tool for monitoring and evaluation, when the current status of the project is 
compared to what had been foreseen in the work plan.

---

Research methodology 
86
 
Example of a GANTT Chart 
Responsibility 
Month 
1 
Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 
1. Prepare 
proposal 
and submit to donors
PI 
2. 
Obtain fund and 
discuss arrangement 
with local 
government
PI
3. Preparation of study 
tool 
PI
4. Prepare for field 
Work 
PI``
5. 
Travel to data 
collection site
PI 
6. Select data collectors 
and research 
assistants
PI 
7. Conducting training 
for data collectors 
and supervisors
PI 
8. 
Pre-testing of the 
survey instrument
PI+RA+DC 
9. Data 
collocation 
PI+RA+DC 
10. 
Data entry and 
cleaning
PI+RA+DEC 
11. 
Data analysis and 
write up
PI 
12. Prepare workshop on 
findings
PI+RA 
13
. 
Hold 
workshop 
PI+RA 
P.I. 
=Principal Investigator
R.A. = Research Assistant 
D.C. = Data Collectors
DEC = Data entry clerk

---

Research methodology 
87